Calendar

Words & Ideas

TODAY

Sharmage Leland-St. John The poet will present and sign her new collection, “Contingencies.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Joseph Mattson, Elisa Ambrogio and Arthur Nersesian Mattson (“Empty the Sun”), Ambrogio (of Magik Markers) and Nersesian (“The Sacrificial Circumcision of the Bronx”) will read and sign their books. Mattson’s reading will be accompanied by Gypsy folk troubadour Six Organs of Admittance. Family, 436 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (323) 782-9221.

MONDAY

Arthur Nersesian and Joseph Mattson Nersesian (“The Sacrificial Circumcision of the Bronx”) and Mattson (“Empty the Sun”) will read and sign their new novels. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Adam Tokunaga The author of “Slow Sex Secrets” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Naomi Wolf Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries” in conversation with Martin Kaplan. Full, standby only. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

TUESDAY

Counting Votes and Making Votes Count The Hammer Forum series presents California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Election Law Journal co-editor Richard Hasen in a conversation moderated by Ian Masters. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Peter W. Galbraith Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Unintended Consequences” in conversation with NPR foreign correspondent Mike Shuster. Arrive early and watch the televised presidential debate. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the Aloud program immediately following the debate. Full, standby only. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Savannah Knoop The public face of phantom author JT LeRoy will present and sign her new memoir, “Girl Boy Girl.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Naomi Wolf The author will present and sign her latest book, “Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Tim Reid, Tom Dressen and Ron Rapoport The authors of “Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White” will present and sign the new book about America’s first -- and last -- interracial stand-up comedy duo. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Cory & Sarah Stargel and Rick Thomas The Stargels will present and sign “Early Los Angeles County Attractions,” and Thomas will present and sign “The Arroyo Seco,” both books recently released by Arcadia Publishing as part of the Images of America series. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Percival Everett and Chris Abani Everett (“Abstraktion und Einfuhlung”) and Abani (“The Virgin of Flames”) will discuss their work and the Abani-founded Black Goat poetry series, a division of Akashic Books, which recently released “Abstraktion.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

FRIDAY

Best Music Writing 2008 Panel Discussion Times pop music critic Ann Powers will host a panel of music writers who are also contributors to this year’s installment of the Best Music Writing series. The panel will include Solvej Schou, Oliver Wang, Jeff Weiss, Brandon Perkins and others. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Jack London Society Symposium The biennial symposium of the Jack London Society, which will be open to the public. Visit www.huntington.org/thebigread for more information. Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Fri.-Sat., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $50; students $15. (626) 405-2100.

Murder Most Nordic: Today’s Scandinavian Crime Fiction A lecture and slide presentation by CLU professor R. Guy Erwin on the subject of Nordic writers who write in the mystery genre. The lecture will be held in the Roth-Nelson Room. California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. 7:30 p.m. (805) 241-1051.

Dave Pierce The author of “Riding on the Ether Express: A Memoir of 1960s Los Angeles, the Rise of Freeform Underground Radio, and the Legendary KPPC-FM” will present and sign his book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. (310) 659-3110.

State by State Release Event and Screening To mark the release of the new anthology “State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America,” Vroman’s will host a screening of a short film featuring many of the book’s contributors. A copy of “State by State” is included in the ticket price. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. $35. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards Baumgardner (“Abortion & Life”) and Richards (“Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself”) will read and sign their books. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Charles Bivins, Hilda Weiss and Laurel Anne Bogen Poets Bivens (“Music in Silence”), Weiss and Bogen (“Washing a Language”) will read their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

Phillip Lopate The author of “Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan” and “Being With Children” will discuss his work, which includes essays, novels and poetry. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Linda Overman The author of “Letters Between Us” will read and sign her new epistolary novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Boyd Rice The experimental noise musician, artist and writer will present and sign his new book of collected writings, essays and art, “Standing in Two Circles.” La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.

Art Spiegelman The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and author of “Maus” will present and sign the new compilation of his early work, “Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*!” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.